Click each FAQ below to see the corresponding answer

Every day that passes the existing Brent Spence Bridge becomes more dangerous and the price of building a new bridge increases. The Brent Spence Bridge carries more than twice as much traffic as was originally designed to carry and that number increase daily. In addition, by allowing the Brent Spence Bridge to deteriorate, we put our region at a great economic disadvantage. A new bridge would bring new manufacturing jobs to the region and help secure the industry that is already here.

What if we don’t find the funding to build a new bridge? What happens? Will the bridge close? Be torn down? Fall in?

If we do not build our new bridge now, the congestion will continue to increase, the bridge will become more dangerous, and our entire regional transportation system will suffer.

How many jobs will the project create?

It is estimated that the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project will create tens of thousands of new jobs to design, finance, and build the new bridge and the transportation corridor around it. This does not include jobs that will result from increased economic development due to a decrease in bridge congestion and an expansion of the region’s manufacturing base.

What is a public-private partnership (P3)?

A public-private partnership (P3) is a contract between a government or public agency (federal, state or local) and private-sector companies to plan, finance, construct, and/or operate a road, bridge, or facility. It allows the private sector to do what it does best – like building bridges – and the public sector to do what it does best – protect the public’s interest.Public-private partnership are more cost-effective and generally get work done faster than a purely public ventures. They split the risk between public and private entities and reduce the initial capital investment required from public sources. Most importantly, they provide alternative sources of funding for financing major infrastructure projects like this one.

What are some examples of P3s?

Several megaprojects around the United States are currently using public-private partnerships to deliver infrastructure and economic development projects. These include the Port of Miami Tunnel, the Cooper River Bridge Replacement Project, a series of large-scale improvements in Virginia, the Ohio River Bridges that span Kentucky and Indiana in the Louisville area, and The Banks project in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Traditionally, the federal government has funded many Interstate infrastructure projects. Why can’t it do it now?

The estimated cost of the bridge project is $2.7 billion, and this amount increases by three percent every year the bridge is not built. Although the federal government has paid for a large chunk of mega-transportation projects like this one, federal elected and appointed officials have told the region’s business and political leaders that money is not available in the federal budget to pay for this project. To date, no construction money has been identified or allocated toward construction of this project. In addition, the decline in gas tax revenues and the refusal of Congress to increase this tax presents a big challenge to securing federal transportation funds for this project.

Why can’t we just use the other bridges that connect Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky and reduce the number of cars that use the Brent Spence Bridge?

The Brent Spence Bridge is a key component of our regional and national transportation system. As congestion continues to grow on the BSB, so does congestion on every major transportation route in the area. Think about how construction or an accident on one road immediately increases traffic on others around it. That’s why “going around” the Brent Spence Bridge will not work. It’s not practical for commuters, visitors, or commerce.

How can I get involved?

The Best way to get involved is by signing up on our email list and writing to your local elected officials to let them how important building a new Brent Spence Bridge is to our region. You can contact these officials by clicking on the yellow icon on the right side of this page.

If tolls are a part of the bridge, how much will they cost?

It is too early in the process to determine exactly how much tolls would costs. However, tolls on the bridge projects underway in Louisville are expected to be as low as $1 for local residents.

Would I have to stop and pay money in a toll booth? Wouldn’t that cause the same amount of congestion we have now?

No, you would stop at a toll booth to pay money. Instead, payment would be made through an electronic toll collection system widely used elsewhere in the country and could options such as high- speed and low-speed lanes, local and through traffic lanes, and discounts for local residents or high users. Electronic tolling presents a variety of options for make payment without slowing you down.

I seldom use the bridge; why should I care?

As our region continues to grow, so will congestion and gridlock on the Brent Spence Bridge and the roads surrounding it. Motorists will take alternate routes around the bridge, which will create more traffic, congestion, and gridlock elsewhere in the region. A trip from downtown Cincinnati to the Cincinnnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport will triple from about 30 minutes today to 1.5 hours in 20 years if a new bridge is not constructed.

Increased tractor-trailer traffic will make the situation even worse. Truck traffic on the bridge increased from 1990 to approximately 24,000 trucks today, which accounts for about one quarter of all traffic on the bridge. Interstate truck traffic is projected to grow 10 percent by 2030.

Where will the new bridge go?

Current plans show the new bridge will be built just west of the existing bridge. The existing bridge will be rehabbed and repurposed for I-71 northbound traffic and for local traffic.

Once funding is secured, the bridge could be completed, using innovative building methods, in a period as short as three years.

How much will the project cost?

Currently, the project is estimated to cost $2.7 billion. However, with every month that passes where we don’t start construction on the bridge, the labor and construction cost rise about $7 million a month – or about $83 million per year. That is why it is so important that we start on this project as soon as possible.

Which state owns the bridge?

Kentucky owns most of the Brent Spence Bridge.

Are Ohio and Kentucky working together on the project?

Yes. Elected officials, community leaders, transportation departments, Chambers of Commerce, and businesses and organizations from both states have agreed to work together to make this project a reality. Recently, a memorandum of understanding was entered into by the states of Ohio and Kentucky to jointly fund a “Value for Money” study that explore the best ways to fund and finance this project as well as value engineer the project to bring down overall costs. The two states have spend more than $70 million on design, engineering studies, utilites, planning and some property acquisition.